A collection of stories covering Egyptians' concerns and problems in the past ten years
Sources:
Middle East Times
www.metimes.com
Cairo Times
www.cairotimes.com

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

The Culture of Bango (republished)

By Yomna Kamel
Special to Middle East Times

From
a gang of unemployed young men spending their night in a dark street
corner in Imbaba to a group of sophisticated writers, intellectuals, and
actors gathering in one of their well-furnished fancy villas in Maadi,
there is one common thing that creates superstitious world for them. It
is the key to happiness and imaginative running away from life’s
problems. They are ecstatically transported, though they are still stuck
down to earth.
It is ‘Bango’, a locally produced marijuana that
seems to be the most commonly used drug in Egypt these days. Bango is
produced by drying the leaves and flowers of the cannabis. Then, it is
smoked in the form of rolled cigarettes called ‘joints’.
Although
figures are not available, sociologists, psychologists and policemen
agree it tops the list of illicit drugs taken by two classes in Egypt:
the low paid laborers and unemployed young men and the ‘elite’ that
comprises writers, actors, and musicians.
“It is less common
among Middle class families since they tend to be more committed to
values and traditions”, says Dr. Madiha El-Safty, Professor of Sociology
at the American University in Cairo.
For laborers, Dr. El-Safty explains, they think Bango makes them more active and capable of working long hours.
According
to a factory owner,Wagdy Aziz, Bango is notably common among laborers.
He says some of his laborers admit they take it. They have no problems
with work or productivity; rather, they seem more active and enjoying
work. Yet, they never stop asking for money to borrow from their coming
salaries. “I think they spend most of their wages on Bango and their
families are usually the ones who financially suffer”, Aziz adds.
For
the cultural and economic elite, it is taken because they believe its
gives inspiration, talent, and artistry. For instance, Dr. El-Safty
says, writers who are into Bango think it puts them in the mood of
creativity. A well-known novelist used to take all sorts of drugs out of
his belief that they helped him write more and be more creative. While
he was lucky enough to escape police, others like Said Saleh, the
well-known comic actor was caught taking Bango. Saleh is one of tens of
cases of artists caught taking drugs. Some were revealed by police and
others were not.
For Dr. Aza Kuraim, professor of sociology at
the Center of Sociological and Criminal Research, Bango is a ‘social
infection’ as it is usually taken in groups of people who are
frustrated. It is commonly used among intellectuals, young people, or
laborers. All believe that Bango transports them to a funny mood they
need to be relieved from their frustrations and problems. Although,
laborers and creative people are notably into Bango, Dr. Kuraim thinks
Egypt’s young men are the highest group at risk. They are sensitive and
socio-economic problems frustrate, and push them to take drugs to
imaginatively feel happy and felicitous.
Dr. Kuraim affirms that
intellectuals are not away from frustrations and suffering. Creative
people have their own frustrations just like any other human being.
Although they are well educated and aware of the effects of drugs, they
still go for it. In case of Bango, they think it is just a natural herb
like Hashish that has no serious effect on health. Moreover, Bango might
enhance creativity, but there no scientific research done in this
field. “Despite it is commonly used, I still cannot say Bango has become
part of Egypt’s culture. I think it appears under certain social and
economic pressures”, she says.
While Dr. El-Safty and Kuraim think
Bango might have a positive effect on creativity, Dr. Mohamed Said
Khalil, professor of psychology at Ain Shams University, says it is a
fact. Bango contains a ‘Hallucinatory agent’ that makes one’s ideas
flow in an unusual and untraditional way. Therefore, it has a special
effect over creativity. Bango makes people who smoke it feel happier.
The funniest jokes in Egypt are made by Bango-smokers, explains Dr.
Khalil who runs a hospital for rehabilitation of drug addicts.

source: www.zizonline.com

Dr.
Khalil is not against Bango smoking, but against addiction. He says
there is a difference between taking Bango to get out of moods of
depression and frustration and addicting the drug in a way that you
cannot lead a normal life without it. It is a soft drug that can be
medically prescribed to relieve depression. However, Bango smokers
should take it according to medical advice in order not to be dragged to
addiction. The hospital Dr. Khalil runs receives cases of Bango smokers
who were involuntarily dragged to addiction because they did not
consult a specialist.
Dr.
Khalil thinks Bango smoking should not be considered a crime. It is
similar to the Qat, which is commonly used in Yemen and never was a
crime. Some countries have legalized the use of certain soft drugs. “I
believe alcohol is worst than some kinds of soft drugs”, he points out.
As
for those who are addicted to the drug. They should receive a therapy
and stay under medical and psychological care. They are patients who
must not be seen as criminals, Dr. Khalil stresses.